The Chicago Bulls found two rotation players in Summer League

As NBA Summer League winds down, most of the focus for the Chicago Bulls has been on 11th pick Matas Buzelis, who has already flashed big-time potential. 

The Bulls are badly in need of developmental talent, especially now that they have (sort of) pivoted to a rebuild and there were two players in Summer League other than Buzelis who look ready to step into an NBA rotation. 

DJ Steward was the standout for the Chicago Bulls 

Like Buzelis, Steward is a Chicago native, and also like Buzelis, he was a standout for the Bulls in Summer League. 

Steward led the Bulls in scoring after a 37-point outburst against Atlanta where he was hitting shots from all over the floor. 

He shot the ball well, hitting 47 percent of his shots overall and 40 percent from long range on over six attempts per game in Summer League. 

He set up teammates and looked the part of a backup point guard who can come off the bench, get buckets and lead the offense in stretches. Even if Lonzo Ball returns, he won’t be able to play big minutes, which leaves the Bulls thin at point guard behind Josh Giddey. 

The Bulls inked Steward to a two-way contract, so he’ll likely spend some time in the G-League, but he looked like an NBA rotation player, which would be a nice find for the Bulls. 

Steward is only 22 and was considered one of the best guard prospects in his class before his one season at Duke. He's played in the G-League for parts of three seasons and put up big numbers, so may be ready for the leap into an NBA rotation.

Hitting on lower-salary players who can make an impact will be even more important in the second apron era, and hopefully the Bulls have.

Steward would be a fan favorite right away, and may get his chance depending on how the Bulls roster ultimately shakes out. 

Julian Phillips is ready for more 

Phillips played just 40 games in his rookie season for the Bulls, missing time with a foot injury that cost him the end of the season, a common theme for Chicago last year. 

Phillips was a bit of a forgotten man after being drafted in the second round, but showed in Summer League what he can bring to the Bulls rotation now that he is healthy. Phillips averaged over two steals per game and looked like a guy who can disrupt the game with his defense, something the Bulls desperately need after losing Alex Caruso. 

Phillips has a huge wingspan and is known as an energy, hustle guy who does the dirty work on the defensive end and doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make an impact. 

Phillips also averaged a block and nearly six rebounds in big minutes, so showed that he is healthy and what he can provide for the Bulls next season, which is a glue guy who defends and provides big energy off the bench in various ways.

Depending on what happens in the rest of the offseason, both of these players could start next season in the rotation for the Chicago Bulls, so it was a productive Summer League.